Title: Odd Dog Out
Author/Illustrator: Rob Biddulph
Age Group: 2-6
Synopsis: Odd Dog Out doesn’t fit in so she leaves to find a place where she will be the same as everyone else. But will make her happy?
The Low Down:
Rob Biddulph is a huge favorite here. With bright, vibrant pictures and witty rhyming lines, Bug always likes his books. We got this one from the library in October and Bug was hard-pressed to part with it. We sat outside the library and read it one more time before saying goodbye and returning it. Weeks after, he still talked about it every time we went to the library and asked if I thought we’d see Odd Dog Out. Luckily, he received it for Christmas from his aunt and as he unwrapped it, he almost shrieked. His love for it hasn’t diminished in the months that they’ve been apart and it’s a book that I’m very pleased he’s enchanted with.
The story isn’t new by any means, but Biddulph pumps new life into this misfit tale through his use of imagination and fun. Odd Dog Out is a basketball-playing, hang gliding, guitar-playing, bicycle riding, hat and scarf wearing kind of dachshund in a town full of soccer balls, hot air balloons, violins, cabs, bowler hats and suits. She travels on a beautifully illustrated adventure to find a new home and ends up in a place where everyone is just like her. Surprisingly though, she finds a dog that reminds her of herself. He doesn’t fit in at all and when she goes to console him, he sets her straight. He likes being different and he’s proud of his uniqueness. It throws everything into perspective for Odd Dog Out and she hurries back home and into the arms of her friends who’ve missed her.
The amount of detail displayed in each picture is shocking. When I stopped and studied the pages I could find small bits carefully hidden on each page. It’s definitely a book that deserves a careful perusal. Additionally, Biddulph’s clever use the dachshund’s physique adds a bit of whimsy to this tale. On one page the dog stretches through seasons and on another she reaches either end of a submarine. On these montage pages, that can easily be brushed over, Biddulph encourages the reader to stay longer and appreciate the struggle that we go through to find ourselves.
Biddulph’s main character does an amazing job standing out on the first pages, where all of the fifty or so dogs are not only dressed the same but have the same expressions. The idea that Odd Dog Out feels alone is aptly illustrated, not only by dress and action but by a physical distance that is put between her and the others. It’s so indicative how we can feel separate from a crowd, physically and also emotionally and mentally. This book is not just a story about characters but a message about how we can feel in our own lives. Everyone feels different at some point in their life, whether it’s an everyday occurrence or a one time thing. The experience can be unsettling, not only in the moment but also upon reflection. Why am I not like the others? People can tell us time and again that it’s ok to be different, to be who you are. But, like Odd Dog Out, until we accept that message and embrace it for ourselves, it holds little meaning.
This is why books that perpetuate these messages are so important. Even at a young age children will glean their own messages from a story. Bug can look at a page of a dinosaur chasing a sheep and say: “How sweet! He wants a hug.” Where as I’m silently encouraging the sheep to run faster. Books take a subtle approach to delivering messages, the main character is not the reader but it could be. And there in lies the importance. Odd Dog Out and stories like it are not only messages for those who feel lost and alone. It is also a message for those around them, spreading the word about empathy, love, and acceptance. Not just for ourselves but others as well.
Story Tips:
- Odd Dog Out is on the title page and the first page too. In a Where’s Waldo fashion, keep an eye out for her.
- When she decides to leave look over in the bottom right corner, another dog is calling for her not to leave.
I need more!
Rob Biddulph has some great books. Check out our review of Blown Away and see more info about this amazing author/illustrator.
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